Croser a Winner of Sports Journalism Prize

A prestigious sports writing award – recognising specifically the work of young Scottish sports journalists – has been made to a Scottish Mail on Sunday journalist, following an unanimous decision by the judging panel.

Graeme Croser is the latest recipient of the Jim Rodger Memorial Award, now in its 14th year and commemorating one of the 'legends' of Scottish sports journalism.

The award announcement – made last week – sees Croser scoop £1,000.

Rodger died in 1997. The award is open to sports journalists aged 35 and under working for a Scottish daily, Sunday or evening paper.

Croser, 34, told allmediascotland.com: “It's gratifying to know I can still be considered young at 34.”

This year’s judges were sports writer, Rodger Baillie; Bernard Ponsonby, STV political editor; and Alan Pattullo of The Scotsman, who was the winner of the award eight years ago.

Says a statement issued by the award organisers: “The judges, making their unanimous decision to name Graeme as this year’s winner, said the two pieces illustrated the best that a young sports writer can deliver.

“In their determination they said his two entries covered a broad spectrum of sports reporting.

“His match report on Celtic's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat last season by Ross County managed to overcome the difficulties of projecting the shock defeat by a First Division club for Neil Lennon's side, while not downplaying the joy of the victory for the Highland team.

“His other entry, on Celtic's interest in signing Freddie Ljungberg, was a genuine scoop which received wide follow-up coverage.

“The judges were also heartened by the standard of all the entries, which they said augurs well for the future of sports journalism in Scotland.”